Callum Skinner, the lead man in the team, crossed the line in a new Olympic record in a thrilling final against New Zealand. Sharing gold with him were Kenny and Philip Hindes, whose job was to lead Skinner before he launched himself for the line.

Kenny now has four gold medals - one short of Sir Steve Redgrave and two away from Sir Chris Hoy.

Meanwhile Kenny’s fiancee Laura Trott and her team-mates Katie Archibald, Elinor Barker and Jo Rowsell-Shand set a new world record of 4.13.26min in qualifying for the finals of the 4,000m team pursuit event tomorrow.

Kenny revealed Trott was so focused on her own medal campaign she left the Velodrome early and missed seeing him win gold, but congratulated him later. She tweeted that Kenny and his team were "my absolute heroes".

Earlier in the day Katherine Grainger made history by taking silver in with Vicky Thornley in the women’s double scull event. Grainger, 40, is now Britain’s most decorated Olympian, with one gold and four silver medals, and the first British woman to win medals at five successive Games.

The Scot said: “Jason Kenny really looks in great form now and he has to be a favourite for the sprint. The keirin is a bit of a lottery but he has to be in with a shout.

“I don’t want to say anything in case I jinx it, but that could be the start of three golds."

Hoy added: “That was unbelievable. I know what it feels like to be in Callum Skinner's position and he dealt with it in great fashion. He's worked so hard to win his place in the team - he did that and there were all kinds of doubters.

"Psychology made the difference in that final. Of the two teams it was a case of who could hold their nerve. And Great Britain had that belief.

"It was fascinating watching Jason Kelly during that race. He is normally suchy a calm guy but he was pumped up, cheering Callum Skinner in that last lap."